Apple Foldable Phone Delayed to 2029 Amid iPhone 17 Success

Apple’s struggle to enter the foldable smartphone market has reached a critical juncture, with Bloomberg reporting that engineering challenges related to weight, features, and display technology have pushed the potential debut of a foldable device to 2029 or later. According to people familiar with the matter, developers cannot get the product features right, suggesting that even an iPhone version could arrive later than the initially rumored iPhone 18 timeline. The technical hurdles highlight Apple’s difficulty in matching Samsung’s established foldable technology, which has given the South Korean company nearly a year of market leadership with its Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 models.

The delay represents more than just a product setback—it signals a potential shift in Apple’s traditional hardware dominance. While rumors had previously hinted at a foldable phone launch with the iPhone 18 late next year, the current timeline suggests Apple may first release a foldable version of the iPad. This staggered approach underscores the complexity of the engineering challenges and raises questions about whether Apple can maintain its reputation for delivering polished, market-leading hardware innovations in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Despite the foldable delays, Apple has reason to celebrate strong iPhone 17 sales driven by its fast chip and new camera technology. The company’s stock surged on reports of high demand in both China and the United States, the world’s largest smartphone market. However, this hardware success cannot fully offset concerns about Apple’s innovation pipeline. The AI version of its software isn’t scheduled for release until next year, creating a significant gap in its competitive offering against rivals who already have advanced AI capabilities integrated into their devices.

The fundamental question facing Apple investors and analysts is what hardware advance in the iPhone 18 will convince consumers to upgrade. With most major AI companies already offering popular downloads through Apple’s App Store, and foldable technology representing the leading hardware innovation that Apple cannot yet deliver, the company faces mounting pressure to demonstrate its next breakthrough. This innovation uncertainty comes as Apple continues to battle powerful rivals in the crucial Chinese market, where competition remains intense and consumer preferences rapidly evolve.

Apple’s stock performance tells a revealing story about market sentiment. Despite the positive iPhone 17 sales news, shares are up only 3% this year compared to the S&P 500’s 14% gain. Even more telling is the comparison to Microsoft Corp., whose stock has surged 25% this year as it’s widely considered an AI industry leader while Apple is viewed as an AI laggard. This performance gap underscores how investors are rewarding AI innovation while questioning companies that appear to be falling behind in this critical technological race.

The market reaction following the iPhone 17 news—where Apple’s stock actually traded down—suggests that strong traditional smartphone sales are no longer sufficient to drive investor enthusiasm. If Apple hopes to generate significant stock momentum next year, it may not come from an AI upgrade alone, given that competitors already offer robust AI applications through Apple’s own App Store. The foldable technology delay compounds these concerns, removing what many analysts consider the next major hardware advancement from Apple’s near-term product roadmap.

Samsung’s established leadership in the foldable market presents a significant challenge to Apple’s hardware dominance. With the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 already representing state-of-the-art smartphones, Samsung has built nearly a year of market experience and consumer feedback that Apple cannot easily overcome. This head start allows Samsung to refine its technology and build brand loyalty in the premium foldable segment, potentially making it harder for Apple to capture market share whenever its delayed product eventually launches.

The competitive pressure extends beyond Samsung to the broader market dynamics. Microsoft’s strong stock performance and AI leadership position create additional benchmarks against which Apple is measured. In China, Apple faces powerful local competitors in the world’s largest smartphone market, where consumer preferences and competitive landscapes differ significantly from Western markets. These combined challenges—technological delays, AI perception gaps, and intense global competition—create a complex environment that even strong iPhone 17 sales cannot fully mitigate.